I think fireflies might be onto something.

Having just gotten my daily requirement of Starbuck’s venti coffee as I’m driving to work, two fire flies land on my windshield. It immediately caught my attention. I almost had an accident; I was mesmerized. Charcoal black bodies with bright orange around their heads. But what struck me was that as they were actively mating with their tails in twined … each of their heads were pointing in the opposite direction. Each looked around the world, never seeing its partner and simply enjoying the process of mating.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I shut off the engine to my mini-van and just sat with my coffee, watching. It was such an innocent, natural occurrence. It might have lasted 3 minutes. I just watched, thinking how simple their life is.

How many people in the world have had sex without necessarily wanting to face their partner? No conversation needed, no eye contact necessary, simply in deep thought, fantasizing, enjoying the sensations.

Me… I think I’m happily married so the thought has never really occurred to me,
but for those who yearn for pleasure without obligation… spread your wings, fly away and go meet a firefly.

Posted by Melody at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My daughters typical response.

This Sunday I will be taking my daughter to her first ever “Mother Daughter Spring Luncheon.” But how can you force a kid to wear “appropriate” clothing? My daughter hates wearing dresses, refuses to carry a purse AND wouldn’t be caught dead in any shoes other than flats. And pantyhose – forget it!
.

Parents, follow these steps to ensure peace, happiness and style with your teenager:

1. What daughter wouldn’t cherish lunch at her favorite restaurant of her choice, and a shopping spree with defined guidelines?

2. If she hates dresses, don’t even waste time looking at a single dress. Pull out pant suits or tailored silk or crepe white or crème colored pants (perfect for spring).

3. Select a floral silk or chiffon top – the fancier the better. If your daughter hates flowers, then go with a solid white with beading, burgundy, red or lime green solid with flowing short sleeves or sleeveless.

4. Buy a special hair barrette with jewels and glitter to dress up her face.

5. Depending on her age, buy special lipstick that will compliment her new outfit.

6. Try on cream colored or white open toed sandals (which can be re-worn throughout the whole summer). I love the 1/2 inch shoes from Carabella's.

7. Have fun and cherish every precious moment you can spend alone with your daughter.

Posted by Melody at 07:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Whoever said “Catalogs will become obsolete because of the Internet” surely needs to get their head examined!
Ten years ago, the launching of Catalogs.com was built on the exact premise that catalog shopping goes hand-in-hand with the Internet. Heck, we built our entire business model around this, and perfected the art of qualification of leads. For direct marketers, advertising executives, eCommerce managers and catalog companies … the following information is FASCINATING.

#1. As BusinessWeek magazine reported recently, “Net shopping isn’t rendering catalogs obsolete. It’s just changing their role.”

#2. If you send someone a catalog . . . he or she is twice as likely to make a purchase at the retailer’s Web site.

#3. Shoppers made 15 percent more transactions than those who did not receive catalogs and their spending was 16 percent higher.

#4. Forty-seven percent (47%) of online retail shoppers used the company’s catalog to assist with their online holiday shopping. Of these, 92 percent feel having the catalog on-hand creates ease with online shopping.

#5. The data also finds that catalogs drive multiple online shopping trips, with 69 percent of online shoppers making multiple visits to a company’s site.

#6. Catalogs, when combined with Internet shopping, create higher levels of online engagement, thereby deepening relationships with the retailer, introducing customers to more products and increasing brand awareness.

#7. The purchase rate increase was most dramatic among new consumers — 260 percent higher for catalog recipients versus non-recipients. Among current customers, the purchase rate was an impressive 67 percent higher.

#8. During the first 45 days of the 2006 holiday season, total online retail spending reached $19.48 billion, marking a 25 percent increase versus the corresponding days in 2005.

My sources: The U.S. Postal Service conducted a massive research study in association with comScore Networks, Inc. Much of the facts and figures were also collected from DM News.

Posted by Melody at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It takes a lot to impress me. Too many people I meet are just “mediocre” in their values and beliefs. But when a kid who is younger than 15 decides to set her mind on something … and does not stop until she has conquered her dream … this impresses me greatly.

Imagine a little girl, at the age of 3, knowing that she wants to become an astronaut. Imagine a kid studying astronomy and space throughout elementary school. Saving every penny, every dollar earned from babysitting and odd jobs around the house, every dollar received for birthday gifts. And then, imagine an entire 6 months of research on the Internet, tediously analyzing specifications, including mirrors, refractors versus reflectors, tube size, focal length, eyepieces, and lenses, etc.

It takes an enormous degree of control and commitment NOT to spend money on frivolous things throughout the year. Could you save your money for 4 years straight? Imagine the excitement when two huge boxes arrive, weighing 63 pounds and costing $719.00.

I am so incredibly proud of MY daughter, who on her own just bought HERSELF (with NO help from Mom or Dad) a professional telescope.

I hope she’s the first astronaut to travel to Mars!

Posted by Melody at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Do you think God will be watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game during Passover Seder tonight?

Do you think that in between the Manashtana and the matzo and the chorosis , Gator and Buckeye fans will be secretly going into the bathroom, checking their Blackberries online and seeing what the score is?

God has tested the Jews throughout the ages … forcing the Jewish people to make so many difficult choices…. In 167 BCE, it was whether to worship the Greek gods or keep the faith, in 1945, it was whether to keep the Sabbath or keep the store open for the Saturday crowds, and it 1997, it was a choice between the new Denny’s Grand-Slam Breakfast or a bagel with a schmeer.

Now, once again, God tests our commitment and makes Jews decide which is more important … a basketball championship or a commitment to values, tradition and faith.

For the few who are not aware, tonight is the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The favored Florida Gators will face off against the underdog Ohio State Buckeyes, in a bid for the NCAA Championship in this final game of the Final Four playoffs.

Tip-off is scheduled for 9:18 pm, just when the participants in most east coast Seders will be reaching for that second cup of wine. So the question remains…with television off limits on this holiday night, what will basketball fans do? Can we somehow incorporate the game into the spirit of the Seder?

Oh, Lord, we were once as the Buckeyes are today, a despised and looked-down upon people…

Or perhaps…

Let us remember when we too triumphed and displayed the strength of our faith as we arose victorious from trial after trial as the Gators will surely do tonight…

Or maybe we just need to look to the first of our own Final Four…why is this night different from all the rest? Go team!!

Get those Blackberries on the charger…it’s going to be a long night!

Posted by Melody at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)